Although Hedgehog is a small animal, it also needs exercise to maintain and improve its health. Exercise is a good and effective way to help the health of hedgehog improve for the better.
Since you cannot control the hedgehog as easily as a dog or a cat, it becomes more difficult to let them move. That’s why you need something the right size to help them practice, like a wheel.
But there are too many wheels for hedgehog available on the market so you may end up choosing a poor quality one. But don’t worry, we are here to help you choose the best wheel for hedgehog.
Top 8 Best Wheel For Hedgehog 2021
[Review]
#1 Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner 12″ Wide (Editor’s Choice)
Exotic Nutrition is a reputable manufacturer and they own a lot of quality products, so you can be completely this wheel.
This hedgehog wheel is made from sturdy and safe materials. The shaftless design eliminates the risk of injuring the spine or other parts of the hedgehog. That is also an advantage for you to be able to clean the wheel more easily.
Besides, this wheel works very quietly. You will no longer have to hear the annoying creaks resounding throughout your living space.
This wheel comes with a stand and cage attachment so you can set it up easily into hedgehog’s cage. The size and design of this wheel are ideal and match with hedgehog.
However, its weakness is that side openings will make it difficult to clean quickly, even though they have a role to keep hedgehog from falling while in motion.
#2 Kaytee Comfort Wheel Giant 12 Inches (Colors vary)
Kaytee is a very popular name in this industry and we probably don’t need to introduce them too much. If you are looking for a beautifully designed wheel with outstanding colors, this is the best choice.
This wheel also comes at an ideal price and high quality. The material that makes this wheel is very durable, easy to clean and has a long service life.
The no-middle shaft design reduces the risk of injury to the hedgehog’s tail, spine or spines. It also doesn’t include any other structure so your hedgehog can get in and out of the wheel quickly and easily.
This product comes in a variety of colors and sizes so you will have a variety of options for your pet. Furthermore, you can either set this wheel freely or can attach it to a wire cage easily.
#3 Quality Cage Crafters 15″ Chin Spin Wheel (Metal/wood construction)
This wheel, although it looks quite simple, but this simplicity brings elegance to it. Besides, it is also a solid, quality and outstanding wheel on this list.
The combination of wood and metal allows the wheel to be durable and durable over time. You also do not need to worry that hedgehog can destroy this wheel with his teeth.
Besides, this wheel works very smoothly and quietly. It produces no noise and the revs are very even due to the well-functioning, high quality rings.
In general, there are not many defects in this wheel, beautiful design, quality materials, smooth and durable operation. But its price is much higher than most of the other wheels on the market.
#4 Kaytee Silent Spinner Exercise Wheel (Best Budget)
This is another quality wheel for hedgehog from Kaytee. This wheel is suitable for hedgehog, works quietly and comes at an excellent price point for those on a tight budget.
This wheel is a popular choice for small animal owners like chinchillas, hamsters, etc. It’s cheap, but the quality that comes with it is almost unquestionable compared to such a cheap price tag.
It has small bezels so that hedgehog can run easily without being slippery like many other plastic wheels.
You can also set it to stand free or attach to any wire cage. Cleaning also becomes much simpler when the material and design of this wheel create the simplest conditions for you to clean quickly.
#5 Petzilla Quiet Hamster Exercise Wheel Silent Spinner (Cute wheel)
If you are looking for a cute wheel for hedgehog then look no further than this one from Petzilla. It is a wheel with a very nice design and color, bringing high aesthetics to the hedgehog’s residence.
This wheel is a combination of wood and metal. Most of this wheel is made of high quality wood, with the sharp structures removed that could injure hedgehog. Meanwhile the stand is coated metal, which helps the wheel stand firmly and firmly.
Dimensions 9.7 x 9.4 x 5 inches are comfortable for immature hedgehogs. But you will need a larger size for the adults.
The wood material is durable but it is also a difficult material to clean.
#6 Ware Manufacturing Metal Small Pet Tread Exercise Wheel (Metal wheel)
This is a quality metal wheel that you should invest in your hedgehog. Certainly this wheel will bring satisfaction to both the owner as well as the hedgehog.
This wheel is made entirely of metal so it is one of the longest lasting wheels on the market. It is not easily destroyed by hedgehog’s teeth, or by regular cleaning. Overall it can last a very long time.
Besides, this wheel is not as slippery as other plastic wheels, so hedgehog loves it. It also has good working bearings so the revs are very smooth.
However, this wheel seems quite heavy compared to some young hedgehogs. They have difficulty starting the first spins at their disposal.
#7 Ware Manufacturing Flying Saucer Exercise Wheel (Flying Saucer Wheel)
This flying saucer wheel differs from all other conventional wheels due to its open and airy design. Designed as a flying saucer, this wheel virtually eliminates the risk of injury to your hedgehog.
Its wide surface, safe inclination make this wheel an ideal place of exercise and play for hedgehog. This design will also help the owner to clean quickly and easily.
However, this product still has a defect, that is the plastic material is quite brittle, it can crack and break after a period of use.
#8 Lee’s Kritter Krawler Jumbo Exercise Ball (10-inch diameter)
We can’t help but mention a exercise ball in this list. This ball from Lee’s does not have any “wheel” in its name, but it works similarly to a wheel.
While you are cleaning the cage for hedgehog or you simply want your pet to be moved in a larger space then put it in this exercise ball. This ball will keep the hedgehog safe and move freely while you do your own thing.
It is made of clear plastic so you can see your pet clearly. This material also allows for easy and frequent cleaning.
The only downside to this exercise ball is that the hedgehog cannot move in the barn whenever it wants.
What to Know About Hedgehogs’ Behavior?
#1 Habitat
Hedgehog usually lives in savannas, open forests or sub-deserts. They usually sleep for a while at noon, when the temperature is at its highest. And the most active in the early morning or evening. Hedgehogs are not nocturnal, so they often sleep well at night.
So don’t let them get too much exercise during their resting times.
Like small animals, Hedgehog is very susceptible to a number of intestinal and skin diseases. Some diseases can be life-threatening. So hedgehog disease prevention is very important.
#2 Behavior
Hedgehogs have a long nose and a well-developed sense of smell. They search for prey by sniffing the ground.
A hedgehog’s prey is the pupa and the larvae of the insect. An adult hedgehog can eat up to 2 ounces a night. Dubbed the natural enemy of pests.
During the day hedgehogs often hide in bushes and caves to sleep. They like environments that are slightly dark, afraid of strong light. So when raising hedgehogs, choose a quiet place, avoid noise.
During the breeding season of porcupines (spring, summer), you can feed your female hedgehog with cat seed food, which will help replenish her energy.
Hedgehogs have hibernation behavior. When the air temperature drops to 7 ℃, they find a safe place to hibernate. The hibernation period can last up to 5 months (in cold climates).
During this time, the hedgehog can sometimes wake up. But also do not exercise or eat anything.
So you will find them less active during this time and don’t be too surprised to see them becoming more lazy.
What Makes a Healthy Hedgehog?
Besides giving hedgehog exercise, there are many other ways you can improve their health. If you combine the following and exercise exercise, surely your hedgehog will be healthier and happier.
#1 Nutrition
In their natural environment, porcupines are omnivores that can eat a variety of things: rice worms, locusts, crickets and vegetables such as pears, cucumbers, apples, squash, etc.
Because of their not fussy nature, most owners are very easy in choosing food. However, when nurturing, people always want their hedgehog to have the best nutrition.
One day you can be divided into 3 meals for hedgehogs: morning, afternoon and evening. It is best not to let the food go through the day and the dose depends on the diet of each child.
If your hedgehog is malnourished, you need more protein. The water source must be filtered clean, free from alum and chemicals.
#2 Cage
The hedgehog’s cage is like a hamster, but the accessory toys are not necessarily as sophisticated, but it is necessary to have a feeding trough, a clean water bottle and a wheel for them to move.
A standard hedgehog cage is 60cm x 30cm x 30cm (long x wide x high), made of glass or mica material.
Keep the cage in a naturally cool place away from direct sunlight and wind, and especially not to have an air-conditioned room.
One trick to deodorizing and absorbing your hedgehog is to put pine sawdust in a hedgehog cage.
Porcupine cages should be lined to make them comfortable, and the bedding materials should be natural products, not irritating to the hedgehog.
You should line the cage into 2 layers, the lower layer is lined with fine sand, the upper layer is lined with sawdust.
#3 Hygiene and health protection
One advantage of raising hedgehogs is that you do not need to bathe too much and use insecticides, or antibacterial baths, because they are naturally clean, do not smell or shed hair.
Bathe your hedgehog in the sun during the day to avoid colds, every 3 days – once a month, depending on your care conditions.
If the hedgehog shows signs of constant scratching, it may be caused by a parasite. With basic skin diseases or small bugs on the hair, you just need to bathe your baby with saline and rinse with warm water.
Also, do not forget to re-clean the cage to prevent the disease from recurring.
#4 Appearance
The age of the hedgehog to choose the most suitable is from 1.5 to 2 months old. If hedgehogs are smaller than months, they will be susceptible to disease and high mortality, and when they are larger, it is difficult to train them as desired.
A baby hedgehog is considered good, high quality if the size reaches about 60x30x30, weighs around about 100g.
By then, your baby porcupine will begin to learn to eat and eat, which makes it easier for you to raise your baby porcupine, if not weaned.
When choosing to buy porcupines, we should observe the overall, to see if they have defects in any part.
Try to observe the eyes, if the hedgehog’s eyes are not fully open, it proves that the baby hedgehog still needs the care of the mother urchin, so should not buy.
In particular, the hedgehog’s baby’s feet must be sturdy for easy action later on.
How to Take Care of Hedgehog in Winter?
#1 Why need to keep the hedgehog warm?
Hedgehogs have the habit of hibernating when it turns cold. If one day you find your hedgehog falling asleep, deeply lethargic, they may be hibernating. Although this is a normal phenomenon, the owner should not be subjective.
Prolonged hibernation can lower your hedgehog’s body temperature to alarming levels. Hedgehogs can die if they are not properly kept warm. In addition to hibernation, hedgehogs can have other medical problems due to changes in temperature.
One of the most common winter illnesses in your hedgehog is inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms of the disease are porcupines eat less gradually, passing loose stools. Disease causes porcupines to become dehydrated, lose weight and become depleted and die.
#2 Use substrate
The easiest way to keep your hedgehog warm is to add more substrate to your hedgehog’s cage. Types of substrates for porcupines include sawdust, wood chips, corn cobs, sand, compressed wood, compressed paper, etc.Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, in which pine wood sawdust is the most common. .
Pine sawdust has the advantage of being light, cheap, and absorbent. However, the ability to absorb odors is relatively poor, need to replace an average of 1-2 days / time. When using sawdust, you should choose odorless, colorless, and dust-free.
Some manufacturers often add scents to drown out a hedgehog’s odor. This can be quite effective in deodorizing. However, this material can be poisonous to hedgehogs if ingested or exposed for long periods of time.
#3 Warm your hedgehog
#Homemade heating bag
To save money, you can completely make a heating bag for your hedgehog. By utilizing a thick cloth, or sewing layers of thin fabrics together into a hand-sized pocket.
Put some construction sand, rice or barley in the bag and sew the top of the bag. Microwave the bag for about 1 minute, adjust the temperature not to overheat.
Then put the sand bag in the hedgehog’s cage, be careful not to let the hedgehog get too close to the heat source to avoid burns.
Another way is to heat the water, put it in a glass bottle. Cover with a thick cloth and place in a hedgehog cage. This is somewhat dangerous and is not recommended.
#Use heating lamp
A second way to keep your hedgehog warm is to use a heating device such as a heater, heating pad, or heating lamp. This is the way many longtime hedgehog breeders recommend.
Instead of having to pay for expensive heating equipment, you can take advantage of the light bulbs available in the family. Light bulbs can generate heat, keeping your hedgehog safe through the winter.
If you want to save electricity, you can use 2-3 small fluorescent bulbs instead of filament lamps. Fluorescent lamps emit less heat and can be used in small spaces. In addition, a fluorescent light with medium light is suitable for porcupines, which are predators of darkness.
When installing a heating lamp, do not expose the lines and connections to avoid unfortunate accidents caused by electric shock.
Be careful not to use a lamp that is too hot, which can cause your hedgehog to heat up. A heating lamp may not be needed if the room is airtight and warm.
Final Verdict
Hedgehogs are easy pets, they are small but also very powerful. But for them to live healthier, you should pay more attention to a number of factors such as exercise, eating or hygiene for hedgehog.
Even small items like a exercise wheel or a bowl full of favorite foods are enough to make hedgehog a much healthier and happier life. They deserve a lot of attention from you!